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A review by stephdaydreams
Work in Progress by Kat Mackenzie
4.0
Work in Progress is a lively read, one that follows the ironically named Alice Cooper as she looks to rise from the ashes of a life that’s left her lost in love and work. She books a group tour across the UK in the hopes of finding other adults around their 30s, instead, they’re about twice that age.
What follows is a story of rediscovery, of excitement of life at any age, of a life that is worth living— even when it seems we’ve been pushed back to the start of the life.
This is Alice’s story, and I enjoyed how she came to embrace the spontaneity of life. Not everything in life will go to plan, but that doesn’t make it any less of a treasure to cherish. While romance follows Alice, what I most took away from this narrative were all the lessons learned along the way—that personal journey of Alice, along with the friendship blooming with all the older women on the tour. The wisdom they gave her, not just in their triumphs but in the perceived failures of life as well.
It was almost cathartic reading Alice’s journey of rediscovery. To see life is still worth living even when it feels we’ve been left behind, or, in her case, have to restart. To face the future not as a ticking time bomb, but as the endless potential it is.
As for the romance, I was so sweet on the fun dynamic between Alice and Scottish tour guide Robbie. I loved how with every biting, spiteful remark from her, he just returned it with a grin and some light teasing. It was like one-sided dislike to love and I was all for it! It worked for the most part as well, although its final act didn’t fly as high as the rest of the narrative. There was a supporting character’s re-introduction that really took me by surprise in a way I did not care for. The character returns and becomes a romantic match for Alice, and regardless of how fleeting it is meant to be, it ended up lessening, for me, the poignancy of the romance between Alice and Robbie. That said, I do think this comes down to mere preference. What is not my cup of tea but very well be yours! I enjoy really idyllic final act situations where a couple, no matter distance and time, will wait for one other. But this storyline presented in a very realistic, pragmatic manner and I truly do not fault the choice made by Alice in testing those waters. In fact, I think so many readers will appreciate that route.
Overall, I was very much charmed by Work in Progress! It is a very personally enriching experience and one that I think is for all of us who feel we’ve stumbled or been left behind in life and need to realize, there’s still so much living and learning to do!
So keep going, keep finding yourself! And be sure to pick up Work in Progress!
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
3.5✨
What follows is a story of rediscovery, of excitement of life at any age, of a life that is worth living— even when it seems we’ve been pushed back to the start of the life.
This is Alice’s story, and I enjoyed how she came to embrace the spontaneity of life. Not everything in life will go to plan, but that doesn’t make it any less of a treasure to cherish. While romance follows Alice, what I most took away from this narrative were all the lessons learned along the way—that personal journey of Alice, along with the friendship blooming with all the older women on the tour. The wisdom they gave her, not just in their triumphs but in the perceived failures of life as well.
It was almost cathartic reading Alice’s journey of rediscovery. To see life is still worth living even when it feels we’ve been left behind, or, in her case, have to restart. To face the future not as a ticking time bomb, but as the endless potential it is.
As for the romance, I was so sweet on the fun dynamic between Alice and Scottish tour guide Robbie. I loved how with every biting, spiteful remark from her, he just returned it with a grin and some light teasing. It was like one-sided dislike to love and I was all for it! It worked for the most part as well, although its final act didn’t fly as high as the rest of the narrative. There was a supporting character’s re-introduction that really took me by surprise in a way I did not care for. The character returns and becomes a romantic match for Alice, and regardless of how fleeting it is meant to be, it ended up lessening, for me, the poignancy of the romance between Alice and Robbie. That said, I do think this comes down to mere preference. What is not my cup of tea but very well be yours! I enjoy really idyllic final act situations where a couple, no matter distance and time, will wait for one other. But this storyline presented in a very realistic, pragmatic manner and I truly do not fault the choice made by Alice in testing those waters. In fact, I think so many readers will appreciate that route.
Overall, I was very much charmed by Work in Progress! It is a very personally enriching experience and one that I think is for all of us who feel we’ve stumbled or been left behind in life and need to realize, there’s still so much living and learning to do!
So keep going, keep finding yourself! And be sure to pick up Work in Progress!
Thank you NetGalley and Avon for this complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
3.5✨